Dear Campus Community,
The Spring 2025 semester has started and I am excited to feel the energy of students once again. At the same time, I feel (and share in) the very palpable sense of concern that exists. I received several emails regarding our planned response to any potential ICE activity on our campus. I want you to know that we are committed to maintaining a safe and supportive campus and we will continue to ensure this through coordination between Public Safety, Student Affairs, Legal, Administration and Finance and my office.
I understand that there may be anxiety and uncertainty within the college community regarding the rapidly changing Federal immigration policies. Please rest assured that York College is committed to closely monitoring these developments and will collaborate with the University as it responds to changes in Federal policies. Our foremost priority is to ensure a safe and secure environment for all members of our campus community.
Should any law enforcement agency, including federal immigration authorities, request to conduct enforcement activities on campus, the immediate points of contact are Chief Assmann, Russell Platzek and I. Public Safety will also consult with University and College legal counsel to ensure all legal requirements are met at every stage. In addition, our Student Affairs team continue to be available to provide needed support.
Although immigration enforcement activities at York College are considered unlikely, Public Safety continues to follow already established protocols and are proactively preparing for potential scenarios. We are enhancing officer training and continuing to work closely with the Administration to address unforeseen situations should they arise. Additionally, the College will continue to provide timely guidance and share resources to support our community during this time.
To further support our students, York College and the City University of New York (CUNY) offer the following resources:
I want to take this opportunity to thank the York PSC Chapter and Faculty Caucus for their advocacy.
Queens proudly embraces the moniker of “the most diverse county in the United States”. Generations of people from all over the world made their way as immigrants to Queens to capture their part of the American dream. Many found their way to York College as students, faculty and staff and their contributions will always be enshrined in our rich history. Today, because of all of you, York continues to be a place that welcomes, values, embraces and celebrates differences among us. This will always be an enduring characteristic of our college.
Now more than ever our efforts are needed to support student retention, persistence and graduation. As you know, were asked to provide a Supplemental Information Report (SIR) from Middle States Commission on Higher Education regarding our graduation rates for the 2024 collection year which currently stands at 30% which is below the 40% threshold identified by MSCHE. We are in the process of drafting a response which will include a description of our efforts over the past two years. The deadline for submission is February 14th, which is also the due date for our MSCHE Self Study Design. Thank you to the faculty and staff who have volunteered to serve on MSCHE committees. We literally cannot do this without you.
With regards to undergraduate degree enrollment, we are currently 3% below where we were last year at this time, although we anticipate seeing increases over the next few days. Please refer to the college wide reports from OIESP. We surpassed enrollment for continuing graduate students.
Since my last update, we continue to address critical priorities related to the physical plant. To this end, a simple stroll on the first floor or a peak over the railing from the second floor, will reveal that cafeteria construction is underway. Unfortunately, we are behind schedule and did not meet our initial opening date, but we are on our way to a soft opening on February 28 and will be completed and open for food service by March 2025. To address the loss of cafeteria seating, additional seating has been placed around the campus in common areas on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd floors. In addition, the area on the 3rd floor outside the ROTC office formerly used to issue ID pictures has been turned into to a student lounge. Please note, during the time that area is offline there is no access to the microwaves. As such we have put a microwave next to the piano in the Café area. We are in the process of putting the finishing touches on a dedicated Graduate Student Lounge on the 4th floor; and we have also made substantial progress on restroom construction in the HPE.
We are in the process of onboarding three more laborers to help support facility efforts and will conduct a search shortly for custodians to ensure we continue to maintain a clean environment.
I want to take this opportunity to welcome new members of our college community: Pittershawn Palmer, Communication and College Relations Manager who will help us to continue to advance internal and external communication and marketing efforts; Amanda Williams, Academic College Now Manager, who will be integral in continuing the important work of providing pre- college opportunities to high school students and enhancing the pipeline to York College; and Mario Acosta, Chief Administrative Superintendent, who will help to oversee our many projects. Please refer to Staff Updates from the Office of Human Resources for their contact information. I am pleased to share that Jo-Ann Fellows has been appointed as Interim Registrar. Jo-Ann brings a wealth of experience and institutional knowledge, having dedicated 39 years to York College in various roles within the Registrar’s Office, including: CUNY Office Assistant, Assistant to the Registrar, Enrollment Specialist and Enrollment Registrar Manager. In addition to her extensive experience, Jo-Ann possesses deep knowledge of critical enrollment and student support platforms, which will be invaluable in ensuring smooth operations during this period. I am grateful for her leadership, expertise, and dedication to student success and institutional excellence make her an outstanding choice for this interim role. Congratulation Jo-Ann!
In December, we recognized Veniesha Massaquoi of the Occupational Therapy Department as our Employee of the Month, and recently we learned that our employee of 57 years, a founding faculty member of York College and longest serving professor at York, has retired. Dr. Parmet’s dedication to York and impact on his students is immeasurable. I am grateful for his service and look forward to celebrating him in grand style soon. I send my condolences to the colleagues and friends of Professor Emerita Debra Swoboda. While I did not have the opportunity to meet her, my understanding is that she was a dependable and supportive colleague and a dedicated teacher. My thoughts and prayers are also with colleagues whose family and friends in California have been impacted by the fires.
The countdown to the end of the academic year has begun. Let’s continue to make each of these days count.
Your active participation in Governance Committees, MSCHE preparation, departmental and unit assessment activities, responding to surveys, Academic Master Planning, and student mentoring/advisement is desperately needed. Let’s kick the spring off in grand style at AI for York Spring 2025 Conversations kick-off event TODAY 1/28 from noon to 1:30pm in the AC-3D01 big lecture hall. The starting point of the conversation series is that AI is already transforming work for graduates in all fields of study offered at York. The Why Should We Care? kick-off meeting will showcase some of York’s faculty responses to this still new reality.
I can’t speak for anyone else, but during the pandemic I promised myself I would not take the opportunity to share a laugh, talk to, or engage in a spirited discussion with another human being – in person for granted. I know that between meetings, teaching, mentoring, and assisting students it is difficult to attend events during club hour and especially after hours, but join me in resolving to make it ‘some’ events when your schedule allows. I have made to many events over the past year, but I have not made it out to see our student-athletes in action, but in 2025 I plan to be there as often as I can.
I am in receipt of a series of recommendations from an adhoc committee I convened to review all things related to campus events. I hope to use these recommendations to improve how we schedule so that we can better harness the energy and participation of as many members of our college community at student, faculty and other important events to the fullest extent possible.
Our attendance and participation at student events and other campus wide events is important to building and strengthening community at York College. I also know that the establishment of a space like a faculty/staff lounge- is an important element of community building as well as trans/interdisciplinary exchange. I have asked VP Rios to add this to his to do list.
Finally, in mid-December and again at the beginning of January, I decided to call some of our donors to thank them for their generous donations on Giving Tuesday. All were surprised and grateful for my call. It warmed my heart to hear them tell me of their connection to and love for York College. Now as we start this semester, I pass this feeling on to you. May the coldest days this winter be no match for the warmth of those like yourself who love and support our college and that are ‘all in’ for the success of our students.
Claudia Schrader, EdD
Interim President
York College of The City University of New York
94-20 Guy R. Brewer Blvd
Jamaica, NY 11451
(718) 262 2350
cschrader@PROTECTED
IG: Yorkcunyprez